Poverty matters blog + William Hague | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters+politics/williamhague
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What can William Hague do to prevent sexual violence in conflict? | Alice Allanhttps://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/apr/10/william-hague-sexual-violence-conflict
He has laudable aims but can the foreign secretary tackle rape in war at the G8 foreign ministers' meeting, and will countries in conflict zones support his initiative?<p>One image stuck with me from the recent "<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/mar/27/angelina-jolie-william-hague-war" title="">Haguelina</a>" visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It was seeing William Hague delight a group of female Congolese activists by putting on one of their T-shirts with the words "Gender Justice" emblazoned across it. It's a far better look than his baseball cap-wearing days.</p><p>But what is motivating the British foreign secretary to prevent sexual violence in conflict – and will his efforts at the G8 foreign ministers meeting on 11 April make a difference? Hague says the issue first hit him when he visited refugees in Darfur some years ago. He is appalled by the low conviction rates for perpetrators of sexual violence, often citing the Balkans, where only 30 men have been brought to justice for an estimated 50,000 rapes. He also mentions Angelina Jolie's film <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/feb/10/in-the-land-blood-honey-review" title="">In the Land of Blood and Honey</a> as an inspiration.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/apr/10/william-hague-sexual-violence-conflict">Continue reading...</a>Conflict and developmentGlobal developmentWomenLife and styleGenderDemocratic Republic of the CongoAfricaWilliam HagueWorld newsWed, 10 Apr 2013 11:13:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/apr/10/william-hague-sexual-violence-conflictPhotograph: Jake Lyell/CareJosephine, seen here with a Care International worker, was raped near Lac Vert camp in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photograph: Jake Lyell/CarePhotograph: Jake Lyell/CareJosephine, seen here with a Care International worker, was raped near Lac Vert camp in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photograph: Jake Lyell/CareAlice Allan2013-04-10T11:13:10ZArms trade treaty: the government must get off its backside | David Milibandhttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jul/25/arms-trade-treaty-government-off-backside
If the British government really cares about the arms trade treaty, it must defend its animating principles<p>Six years ago the Labour government launched a global humanitarian campaign for a treaty to regulate the arms trade. As foreign secretary from 2007-10 I was proud to lead that campaign. This was a cross-party effort, and recently <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/nick-clegg-we-can-lead-from-the-front-in-disarming-7174368.html" title="">Nick Clegg wrote of the commonality of approach</a> from the previous administration to the current one. But as the negotiation of the treaty is reaching a crunch, my fear is that the government is betraying the original spirit that animated it.</p><p>The arms trade treaty would tackle the unregulated flow of conventional weapons. It would address, for example, the under-reported but nonetheless deadly fact that up to a thousand people a day – mostly women and children – are killed by such arms, often in the world's poorest countries. These weapons are used against UN peacekeepers from all round the world, as well as in inter-communal violence.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jul/25/arms-trade-treaty-government-off-backside">Continue reading...</a>Arms tradeUnited NationsUK newsRussiaEuropeWilliam HagueSyriaMiddle East and North AfricaIranPoliticsWorld newsGlobal developmentConflict and developmentWed, 25 Jul 2012 17:34:21 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jul/25/arms-trade-treaty-government-off-backsidePhotograph: Guillermo Perea/EPAA soldier stands near guns and ammunition seized during a drugs raid in Michoacan state, Mexico. Photograph: Guillermo Perea/EPAPhotograph: Guillermo Perea/EPAA soldier stands near guns and ammunition seized during a drugs raid in Michoacan state, Mexico. Photograph: Guillermo Perea/EPADavid Miliband2012-07-25T17:34:21Z